Police Using Entrapment

[Veggiemonster]

I got approached by an undercover cop. The whole episode really annoyed me, as it was clearly a case of attempted entrapment and it was a blemish on what was otherwise one of the most amazing days of my life.

It was just after sunrise, on the outskirts of the playa - I was at Robot Heart (the sunrise set). I was rolling a cigarette (just tobacco), when this guy walks up. He did a pretty good job of impersonating a burner (the a-holes have been practicing), which is quite scary. A couple things gave him away, but if I had not seem him walking around (or if I was even slightly drunk), I probably wouldn't have noticed. I'm not going to say what the give-away signs were, as I'm sure these guys are trawling these forums, trying to improve their tactics, but as other people have said, look carefully, and trust no-one that just approaches you. The conversation is as below.

Cop: Hey man..can I get few cigarette rolling papers from you?
Me: Sure. How many do you want?
Cop: 3 would be awesome.

I give him 3 rolling papers

Cop: Thanks bro
Me: No problem:
Cop: Let me pay you for the papers
Me: No way. It's only 3 papers and its Burning Man, you're supposed to gift things
Cop: I should give you something though bro. I have some Candy.
Me: What?
Cop: I have Candy and Hash. Why don't I trade you the Candy and the Hash, for the rolling papers?
Me: No thanks.
Cop: No really, let me trade you the papers for the Hash.
Me: No thanks. I don't use illegal substances

At which point he slithered away. A few hours later I saw him with his uniformed colleagues, with a walkie-talkie in his hand.

Everyone, please be careful.If a random person comes asking to sell/buy/trade illegal substances, you should assume they are law enforcement. In this case, his asking to 'trade', was clever, as it may not come across as a 'buy' when they say it, but from a legal perspective, its pretty much the same.

On a side note, my friend was stopped twice by the police, within 10 minutes, as he was leaving the playa. First time the cop told him he was driving over the limit (he was driving at 7mph). The cop let him go after sniffing around. 10 minutes later my friend got stopped by another cop – this time for going to slow. (3pmh) Same thing.

[Savannah]

Thank you for sharing that, and welcome to ePlaya.

. . . In '08, a guy opened a tin full of weed in offering to me after I said yes, I did indeed have a spare Nat Sherman he could have (gotta have a pink cigarette when you're Hunter S. Thompsoning all over the playa, what?)

I wasn't interested for myself, but had to quell the impulse to take a little and re-gift it to a friend.

[Trishntek]

They seem to be stepping it up in the bars too. This year, we had a rather clean-cut 30something, 6'3" guy with a cute YOUNG LOOKING blonde. They both had nice, clean costumes and seemed very "neat".

They came to our bar and I was bouncer at the time. I was very proud of our bartender team as they refused BOTH of them drinks without I.D. They proceeded to offer just about anything you can imagine to get a drink. After they finally got the message and walked away, I shadowed them for a bit. Suffice it to say, they did not act like burners upon departure.

[BBadger]

It's kind of weird, if that's the word, when you encounter an undercover and become aware of the ulterior motive. There was a pair of people claiming to be neighbors to our camp and wanting to bum some pot to "get some sleep." I was very relieved that my friend didn't find any before I could catch him when he went to look. Sometimes it is only after a close call that you realize what may have gone down.

I don't know about all this "they don't look like burners" shit. You know what they say: the cops have been going longer, have better costumes, and know what it means to be a "burner" more than most "burners." Don't depend on your "spidey senses." Don't pretend that you can make a judgement of character. Just be smart about how you conduct yourself.

[Sham]

This is all strictly a MONEY GRAB on the part of the police. They only want to give tickets out with hefty fines in order to close their tight department budgets. Arrests and prosecutions cost them money, but tickets to people who are out of state, bring huge revenues. After all, even if the ticket is given unfairly, it's not going to be worth coming back to northern Nevada to fight it. Pershing County has been pushing to get BM to pay for more police at the event. My take is that we are paying for the police and they are reaping to money from the entrapment fines.

Maybe 4 years ago, a guy in his late teens/early twenties strolled into our camp around mid morning looking for a beer. I just thought of him as a moocher and told him we didn't have any beer. I am sure, in retrospect, that he was an undercover kid working with the police. It probably would have been a $500 fine--then they would be on to the next mark.

I don't think the law enforcement folks realize that they are living in an extremely depressed area--especially since USG closed Empire. If Burning Man leaves this area, it will simply dry up and become yet another Nevada ghost town. For two solid months of the year, this event brings in between 15-22 million dollars to this area, in the form of contractors, port-a-potty suppliers, car rentals (taxes), hotel rooms (taxes and housekeeper pay), merchandise bought etc.

They will be dumbfounded with their thumbs up their bottoms (and each others bottoms) if this event moves to a different location. I just don't think they are smart enough to know that they are killing the golden goose here.

[CornMan]

It wasn't entrapment, but they got me for my California tags on my RV being a few months out of date. $150 fine. My registrations was paid up, but I can't pass smog. In California, the court will waive the fine if you take care of registration. That's not the case with them, it's simply a $150 fine for driving with expired tags. $150 seems a little steep for such a minor offense. I won't protest if they move the event to California or Oregon.

[salope]

Does anybody say "Candy" non-ironically ??

Is this some next-level narc shit, where they use deliberately outdated and lame drug slang, so that people assume they aren't a narc since a narc wouldn't use such obviously ridiculous and narc-y language? If so, they are stepping up their game. I didn't realize narcs had gone all post-ironic.

I had something similar happen on the outskirts of a crowd around an art car party at night. Guy asked me for a cig, then ever so casually as I was turning away he asks "Hey, you interested in extracts?" "Extracts?!?" "Yeah, like pot extracts." Uhhh, no, thanks, narcy narc narc.

Wonder if it was the same guy, and it's part of his shtick to use groan-inducing slang that most people would require finger quotes to deploy.

Careful out there people, shit is getting “real” aka post-ironic. Expect surreal Cheech & Chong antics in 2013.

[Roberto Dobbisano]

f this event moves to a different location. I just don't think they are smart enough to know that they are killing the golden goose here.

did the sale of fly ranch go thru yet?

[lucky420]

Oh for fucks sake! Bring your own party favors and keep it on the dl, ya'll be fine...

[Sham]

Hey lucky, do mind if I search your car? If you have nothing to hide, what's the big deal? I'll have you on your way in 10 minutes.

EVERYONE needs to refuse any type of search--especially if you have nothing to hide. These goofs need to waste a lot of time chasing their tails!

[Nipple]

I do not consent to a search before I post questions on ePlaya.

[lucky420]

ummm I don't know how this turned into sham searching my car, but go ahead...

My post was for on playa. In other words, don't accept any "candy" from strangers and don't offer any candy to strangers. Or alcohol to anyone you don't card...

Cheers

[DustyBubbles]

We were stopped right after entering the gate on Sunday. We are from Oregon, where you don't need tags/plates on a small trailor, but the cop said that since we are in Nevada (and had gone through California) we were not in compliance of the law. He was actually REALLY NICE and was obviously just checking to see if we were high or drunk but still.
Now I wonder, what should I do next year in order to prevent this from happening again? I don't need tags/plates so is there some kind of DMV issued pass I can get? Any Organisms been throguh this as well?

[Elliot]

We were stopped right after entering the gate on Sunday. We are from Oregon, where you don't need tags/plates on a small trailor, but the cop said that since we are in Nevada (and had gone through California) we were not in compliance of the law. He was actually REALLY NICE and was obviously just checking to see if we were high or drunk but still.
Now I wonder, what should I do next year in order to prevent this from happening again? I don't need tags/plates so is there some kind of DMV issued pass I can get? Any Organisms been throguh this as well?

You might want to carry a copy of the relevant regulation. In California, the California Department Of Motor Vehicles has free handbooks that spell out such things in layman's language. I gather most States have such publications. I once visited an equivalent office in Oregon, and the clerks there were extremely friendly and helpful.

You might also ask about a license plate just for out-of-State travel. In California, keeping a plate on a small trailer now costs only two dollars -- $2,- -- a year, after a reasonable original fee.

But I do wonder.... You do not specify in your post, but it sounds like you were not cited for the lack of a license plate on this trailer. (As I understand it, most States try to accommodate tourists by accepting their home State's rules for their vehicles.) If so, why do you object to a brief conversation with a "VERY NICE" person? Surely, you are glad he was keeping an eye out for drunk drivers, since you use the roads yourself?

[dj_john69]

You just got to be careful when you have any chance of getting busted for something whether its herb or expired tags on a rv. Use your common sense if ya have any !! Dont give the feds any chance to stalk you around the Playa.

[CornMan]

I did take precautions to have my proof of insurance documents ready to show in case I get pulled over. My not passing smog threw me through a loop. I was considering applying for the one day transport permit to drive to a smog station. I left California on Friday and stayed in a hotel in Reno, but I would have gotten the permit for the Saturday I drove from a hotel and on through the Burning Man gauntlet because I just had a gut feeling the cops in Gerlach/BRC were going to be hard core this year. Oh well, I guess a $150 fine is better than renting a $3000+ RV.

[666isMONEY]

Not entrapment but weird and worth repeating:

Tuesday, afternoon after most ppl left, a funny-looking minivan (not a mutant vehicle) was cruising down Begonia around Osiris Temple. I was the only one around (neighbors all left), suddenly, I see a green tennis ball about 100-feet away. It was very hot outside so I left it there figuring I or someone else would moop it later. About half-hour later, two female Pershing County deputy sheriffs pull up in an electric golf cart. I hear one of 'em say, "there's one!" They stop, one says to the other, "don't forget to take a pic!" She then says, "best fuckin' job I ever had." I smiled and waved, they left.

Same day, later in the evening, I lit up a cig and a SO cruised right in front of my camp (not on the street but coming up behind me), I heard one of 'em say to the other, "cigarette."

I think the tennis balls were full of weed.

[junglesmacks]

I think the tennis balls were full of weed.

[lucky420]

I think the tennis balls were full of weed.

Are you sure you weren't full of weed?

[curt shocker]

I think the tennis balls were full of weed.

Hmm. Sounds like there might have been a racket in the area.

[ygmir]

[youtube][/youtube]

I think the tennis balls were full of weed.

Hmm. Sounds like there might have been a racket in the area.

[youtube][/youtube]

[BBadger]

I do not consent to a search before I post questions on ePlaya.

The search wouldn't work anyway.

[JStep]

*waves hand*
"These aren't the drugs you're looking for."

"Oh, these aren't the drugs we're looking for."

"We're free to go."

"You're... You're free to go."

[DrYes]

f this event moves to a different location. I just don't think they are smart enough to know that they are killing the golden goose here.

did the sale of fly ranch go thru yet?

Doesn't really matter. When/if it does, it's not a suitable site for Burning Man and isn't being considered as such.

[theCryptofishist]

The goose itself isn't golden, it just lays golden eggs...

[AdamOfTheRedEarth]

Had a guy come into our camp mid-day, specifically looking for me (he must have seen my thread about spotting undercover cops because I'd never seen him before) and the second sentence out of his mouth was "Hey I'm looking to score some reefer". Huh? What's that? I can get you a drink? "No, man I need some reefer" Well, good luck with that. Cop or not, even if I had some I wouldn't have given him any.

[Roberto Dobbisano]

(he must have seen my thread about spotting undercover cops because I'd never seen him before)

yer killing me, smalls.

[wh..sh]

I think the tennis balls were full of weed.

Are you sure you weren't full of weed?

[Hayseed]

For whatever reason drugs never have and still don't interest me. Consequently, I've never followed or learned drug slang, past through present. I do, however, have a sweet tooth that should qualify me for rehab somewhere. If someone (narc) asked me in the City or on the Playa if I wanted some "candy", I gotta tell you I'd be thinking M&M's or a Butterfinger. Is this dumb farmer at risk of County lockup because no one would ever believe that I thought "candy" was candy? I'm starting to get paranoid, man!

[Aurelia]

okay now I am of the age where if they stopped me again I would upperut first ,not cool just a reflex ..
But when I was driving with sons and they did triangulate and stop me just to ticket for speeding ,wasnt, I spent some serious time phoning state and regional and national arguing the issue of out of state persons not being available to come to court
the ticket was dropped and I urge you all to be loud to the bigs about the need for reality in their justice syste
xoA.